Photo:
provided by kind and sole authorization from the Sandrone
Family |
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“Without qualification,
the best book about Italian wine today, if only because
Sergio Esposito understands that its mysterious greatness
is in its poetry—the earth, its diurnal magic,
the ghosts of great-grandfathers. A beautiful, boldly
sentimental memoir.”
—Bill Buford, author of Heat |
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| On
April 22, 2008 the anticipated release of Sergio Esposito's
memoirs from Broadway Books hits bookstores across the
country. Here is more on the book and how you can pre-order
a copy today. |
Pre-order
today! |
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ABOUT THE BOOK
As a young child in Naples, Sergio
Esposito learned to appreciate the deep relationship
between food and wine. Sitting at his kitchen
table, he watched his mother, father, aunts, and
uncles as they paired local dishes with simple
country wines. So it seemed inevitable that the
boy who savored thimblefuls of Sangiovese mixed
with water would grow up to become America’s foremost
authority of Italian wines. When his family immigrated
to America, they were welcomed by their well-meaning
relatives with a bland, uninspired meal, and his
mother would soon discover that it was not easy
to find the ingredients she needed to create authentic
Italian dishes. Clearly America’s palate was in
need of a makeover and as a young man Sergio was
inspired to open Italian Wine Merchants, a shop
dedicated to bringing the most authentic Italian
wines to America. |
Passion
on the Vine is Sergio’s evocative memoir of
his journey from Italy to America and his frequent trips
back to his homeland, some with his growing family in
tow. He takes you to the cold hills of Friuli, the world-famous
cellars of Piedmont, the sweeping estates of Tuscany,
the windy beaches of Le Marche, and the lush fields
of Campania. Along the way he introduces a cast of remarkable
characters, not the least of which are his own mother
and father-at times exasperating but always endearing.
You’ll also meet the man who introduced Italy’s wine
and gastronomic heritage to the world; a ballroom-dancing
winemaker who bases his farming on the rhythm of the
moon; and an obsessive prince who destroys his vineyards
before his death so that his grapes will never be used
incorrectly.
A very personal celebration of food, wine, and family
that no one will be able to resist, Passion
on the Vine is quite simply the most beautiful
love letter to Italy you will ever have the pleasure
of reading.
ADVANCE PRAISE
“Passion
on the Vine is a spellbinding memoir; a vivid, funny,
and, yes, passionate tale of family, food, and wine.
The tour de force chapter on his childhood in Naples
will make you wish you were Italian. Sergio Esposito
is not only a great epicurean—he’s also
a great storyteller.”
—Jay
McInerney, author of A Hedonist in the Cellar
“Esposito’s glass is always half-full,
when not filled to the brim, and always with something
beautifully red and swirling and passionate, as are
his words in this wine-adventure, story-memoir. His
words are like the vines he so ardently writes about-earthy,
deep-rooted; and the wines-perfect on the tongue, with
a long finish.”
—Frances Mayes,
author of Under the Tuscan Sun
“Sergio
Esposito’s culinary memoir is as delicious as
the wines and food he lovingly describes. Well, almost
as delicious. His literary talents are already known
to those of us who eagerly await his periodic newsletters
on the latest in Italian wines, but he surpasses himself
in Passion on the Vine.”
—James
B. Stewart, Editor-at-Large for SmartMoney
magazine and SmartMoney.com
Owner, Sergio Esposito |
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ABOUT SERGIO ESPOSITO
With more than 20 years of experience in the world
of Italian wine, Sergio Esposito is recognized
by industry insiders as the premier Italian wine
consultant in the United States.
In 1999, Esposito founded Italian Wine Merchants
in New York City with Mario
Batali and Joe
Bastianich. With Esposito at its helm,
the store has raised the profile of Italian wine
in this country and influenced both colleagues
and collectors with its cutting-edge selections.
Journalists, writers, and wine enthusiasts regularly
consult with him, and he is frequently featured
in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal,
The International Herald Tribune, Wine Spectator,
Food & Wine, and SmartMoney. |
Esposito spends three months of the year in Italy, where
he meets with producers, tastes new vintages, and brokers
the sale of wines. He travels around the United States
twice a month, giving lectures and presenting tastings.
Esposito is also the author of Passion
on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family in the
Heart of Italy. The colorful narrative, which
takes the reader on an illuminating exploration of Esposito's
native land and its remarkable vintners, will be released
by Broadway Books in April 2008.
A native of Napoli, Esposito grew up in New York. He
has worked as a wine consultant in Manhattan since the
late 1980s, and lives in Manhattan with his wife and
their two children. |
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